General Health

Could we soon be collecting our meds from a supermarket locker?

A supermarket co-operative in the UK is trialling an ‘Amazon locker-style prescription service’ that has the potential to disrupt the way traditional community pharmacies do business. The UK-based Co-operative Group has announced they’re about to trial a ‘click-and-collect’ service that would see patients submit their script online via a digital app on their mobile phone. […]

Do we still need compounding pharmacies in today’s modern world?

Compounding pharmacies are often referred to as ‘old-fashioned’ pharmacies; sometimes with reverence, and sometimes with a sigh. The term comes up because there was a time when all pharmacies were compounding pharmacies. Medications were made on site in the dispensary using the raw ingredients stipulated on a doctor’s script. With the advent of mass- manufacturing […]

Election over. What now for medicine?

It will be another 3 years (or so) before we get to enjoy our next federal democracy sausage, so in the meantime, what changes can we expect to see in the pharmaceutical sector? Let’s have a look at what the election results will mean for medicines: The LNP has promised $614 million in funding for […]

The most common cause of hypothyroidism and how to prevent it

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is a deficiency of iodine in the diet. In recent years much attention has been paid to the theory that autoimmune diseases may be the prime driver of hypothyroidism, however according to The Australian Thyroid Foundation, iodine deficiency is still the number one antagonist. And according to the Foundation […]

Study finds a good stick will correct doctors’ sloppy handwriting

For years the notorious indecipherability of doctors’ handwriting has been the butt of jokes, however a new study in the UK has found that replacing the old fashioned handwritten script with a simple USB stick could lead to a significant reduction in potentially serious medication errors. And we’re talking very serious: According to a report […]

What’s so natural about bio-identical hormone replacement therapy?

In recent years bio-identical or ‘natural’ hormone replacement therapy has been the topic du jour for breakfast television and talk show hosts, including none other than the queen of TV herself, Oprah Winfrey. None of us like loading up on synthetic drugs so the idea that you can manage the symptoms of a natural thing […]

Why pharmacists should be supporting integrative doctors under fire

The recent announcement by the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) that complementary medicine may soon face tighter regulation, should be of concern not just to responsible practitioners in the complementary health field, but also to pharmacists throughout the country. The discussion paper released by the MBA in February of this year specifically mentions integrative medicine […]

Podophyllin works wonders on warts – so why can’t I buy it?

For many years podophyllin was regularly prescribed by GPs for the treatment of warts. However in the last 10 years doctors have mostly stopped prescribing podophyllin. Why? The short answer is that the big pharmaceutical companies have stopped making it. However that doesn’t mean you can’t still get it. Your local integrative doctor knows that […]

Will the move the tighten guidelines for complementary medicine make things safer or further muddy the waters?

A recent move by the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) to tighten guidelines for complementary medicine practitioners could cause more confusion and uncertainty for patients if taken too far, according to leaders in the compounding pharmacy sector. Experienced pharmacist Matthew Bellgrove from National Custom Compounding said many in the compounding sector had been asking for […]

Government recognises potential of personalised medicine through $65 million grant program

The Australian government has recognised the potential of personalised medicine in a very public way by today announcing $65 million in competitive grants for genomic research into cures for cancer, childhood diseases and diseases with low survival rates. The compounding pharmacy sector is applauding the announcement, viewing it as a step in the right direction […]